Rake receiver architecture within a WCDMA terminal

ABSTRACT

A baseband processing module includes an RX interface, a rake receiver combiner module, and may include additional components. The RX interface receives the baseband signals from an RF front end and creates baseband RX signal samples there from. The rake receiver combiner module includes control logic, an input buffer, a rake despreader module, and an output buffer. The rake despreader module is operable to despread the baseband RX signal samples in a time divided fashion to produce channel symbols including pilot channel symbols and physical channel symbols.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENTS/PATENT APPLICATIONS CONTINUATIONPRIORITY CLAIM, 35 U.S.C. §120

The present U.S. Utility patent application claims priority pursuant to35 U.S.C. §120, as a continuation, to the following U.S. Utility patentapplication which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety and made part of the present U.S. Utility patent applicationfor all purposes:

1. U.S. Utility application Ser. No. 11/221,072, entitled “Rake receiverarchitecture within a WCDMA terminal,” (Attorney Docket No. BP4635),filed 09-06-2005, pending, and scheduled to be issued as U.S. Pat. No.7,680,083 on Mar. 16, 2010, which claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C.§119(e) to the following U.S. Provisional Patent Application which ishereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety and made part ofthe present U.S. Utility patent application for all purposes:

-   -   a. U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/703,369, entitled        “Rake receiver architecture within a WCDMA terminal,” (Attorney        Docket No. BP4635), filed 07-28-2005, now expired.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to wireless communicationsystems; and more particularly to the despreading of spread datacommunications received by a wireless terminal in such a wirelesscommunication system.

2. Description of Related Art

Cellular wireless communication systems support wireless communicationservices in many populated areas of the world. Cellular wirelesscommunication systems include a “network infrastructure” that wirelesslycommunicates with wireless terminals within a respective servicecoverage area. The network infrastructure typically includes a pluralityof base stations dispersed throughout the service coverage area, each ofwhich supports wireless communications within a respective cell (or setof sectors). The base stations couple to base station controllers(BSCs), with each BSC serving a plurality of base stations. Each BSCcouples to a mobile switching center (MSC). Each BSC also typicallydirectly or indirectly couples to the Internet.

In operation, each base station communicates with a plurality ofwireless terminals operating in its serviced cell/sectors. A BSC coupledto the base station routes voice communications between the MSC and theserving base station. The MSC routes the voice communication to anotherMSC or to the PSTN. BSCs route data communications between a servicingbase station and a packet data network that may include or couple to theInternet. Transmissions from base stations to wireless terminals arereferred to as “forward link” transmissions while transmissions fromwireless terminals to base stations are referred to as “reverse link”transmissions. The volume of data transmitted on the forward linktypically exceeds the volume of data transmitted on the reverse link.Such is the case because data users typically issue commands to requestdata from data sources, e.g., web servers, and the web servers providethe data to the wireless terminals.

Wireless links between base stations and their serviced wirelessterminals typically operate according to one (or more) of a plurality ofoperating standards. These operating standards define the manner inwhich the wireless link may be allocated, setup, serviced, and torndown. Popular currently employed cellular standards include the GlobalSystem for Mobile telecommunications (GSM) standards, the North AmericanCode Division Multiple Access (CDMA) standards, and the North AmericanTime Division Multiple Access (TDMA) standards, among others. Theseoperating standards support both voice communications and datacommunications. More recently introduced operating standards include theUniversal Mobile Telecommunications Services (UMTS)/Wideband CDMA(WCDMA) standards. The UMTS/WCDMA standards employ CDMA principles andsupport high throughput, both voice and data. As contrasted to the NorthAmerican CDMA standards, transmissions within a UMTS/WCDMA system arenot aligned to a timing reference, i.e., GPS timing reference. Thus,synchronization to a base station by a wireless terminal is morecomplicated in a WCDMA system than in a North American CDMA system.Despreading of received spread communications consumes significantprocessing resources. Such continuous operations can overload a basebandprocessor causing degradation of performance and decrease battery life.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to apparatus and methods of operationthat are further described in the following Brief Description of theSeveral Views of the Drawings, the Detailed Description of theInvention, and the claims. Other features and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent from the following detailed descriptionof the invention made with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a system diagram illustrating a portion of a cellular wirelesscommunication system that supports wireless terminals operatingaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram functionally illustrating a wireless terminalconstructed according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating components of a basebandprocessing module according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4A is a graph illustrating diagrammatically the power spectraldensity of WCDMA RF band(s) supporting multiple RF carriers;

FIG. 4B is a block diagram diagrammatically illustrating the timing ofvarious channels of a WCDMA system employed for cell searching and basestation synchronization according to the present invention;

FIG. 5A is a graph illustrating an example of a multi-path delay spreadat a first time;

FIG. 5B is a graph illustrating the example of the multi-path delayspread of FIG. 5B at a second time;

FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating operations of a wireless terminal insearching for, finding, synchronizing to, and receiving data from a basestation according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating operations of a multi-path scannermodule according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a rake receiver combiner moduleaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating components of a rake despreadermodule of the rake receiver combiner module of FIG. 8 according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating components of a despreaderengine of the rake despreader module of FIG. 9 according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating the logical rake fingers of arake receiver combiner module according to an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating logical components of a fulllogical rake finger of a rake receiver combiner module according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating logical components of a minilogical rake finger of a rake receiver combiner module according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a block diagram illustrating the manner in which a rakereceiver combiner module of an embodiment of the present inventionsequentially performs logical rake finger despreading operations;

FIG. 15 is a flow chart illustrating the sequential performance oflogical rake finger despreading operations according to an embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 16 is a block diagram illustrating another embodiment of a rakedespreader module constructed and operating according to the presentinvention; and

FIG. 17 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a combinermodule of the embodiment of the rake despreader module of FIG. 16.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is a system diagram illustrating a portion of a cellular wirelesscommunication system 100 that supports wireless terminals operatingaccording to the present invention. The cellular wireless communicationsystem 100 includes a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) Interface101, e.g., Mobile Switching Center, a wireless network packet datanetwork 102 that includes GPRS Support Nodes, EDGE Support Nodes, WCDMASupport Nodes, and other components, Radio Network Controllers/BaseStation Controllers (RNC/BSCs) 152 and 154, and base stations/node Bs103, 104, 105, and 106. The wireless network packet data network 102couples to additional private and public packet data network(s) 114,e.g., the Internet, WANs, LANs, etc. A conventional voice terminal 121couples to the PSTN 110. A Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) terminal123 and a personal computer 125 couple to the packet data network(s)114. The PSTN Interface 101 couples to the PSTN 110. Of course, thisparticular structure may vary from system to system.

Each of the base stations/node Bs 103-106 services a cell/set of sectorswithin which it supports wireless communications. Wireless links thatinclude both forward link components and reverse link components supportwireless communications between the base stations/node Bs 103-106 andtheir serviced wireless terminals 116-130. These wireless links supportdigital data communications, VoIP communications, and other digitalmultimedia communications. The cellular wireless communication system100 may also be backward compatible in supporting analog operations aswell. The cellular wireless communication system 100 supports one ormore of the UMTS/WCDMA standards, the Global System for Mobiletelecommunications (GSM) standards, the GSM General Packet Radio Service(GPRS) extension to GSM, the Enhanced Data rates for GSM (or Global)Evolution (EDGE) standards, and/or various other CDMA standards, TDMAstandards and/or FDMA standards, etc.

Wireless terminals 116, 118, 120, 122, 124, 126, 128, and 130 couple tothe cellular wireless communication system 100 via wireless links withthe base stations/node Bs 103-106. As illustrated, wireless terminalsmay include cellular telephones 116 and 118, laptop computers 120 and122, desktop computers 124 and 126, and data terminals 128 and 130.However, the cellular wireless communication system 100 supportscommunications with other types of wireless terminals as well. As isgenerally known, devices such as laptop computers 120 and 122, desktopcomputers 124 and 126, data terminals 128 and 130, and cellulartelephones 116 and 118, are enabled to “surf” the Internet 114, transmitand receive data communications such as email, transmit and receivefiles, and to perform other data operations. Many of these dataoperations have significant download data-rate requirements while theupload data-rate requirements are not as severe. Some or all of thewireless terminals 116-130 are therefore enabled to support the EDGEoperating standard, the GPRS standard, the UMTS/WCDMA standards, and/orthe GSM standards.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a wireless terminalthat includes host processing components 202 and an associated radio204. For cellular telephones, the host processing components and theradio 204 are contained within a single housing. In some cellulartelephones, the host processing components 202 and some or all of thecomponents of the radio 204 are formed on a single Integrated Circuit(IC). For personal digital assistants hosts, laptop hosts, and/orpersonal computer hosts, the radio 204 may reside within an expansioncard and, therefore, be housed separately from the host processingcomponents 202. The host processing components 202 include at least aprocessing module 206, memory 208, radio interface 210, an inputinterface 212, and an output interface 214. The processing module 206and memory 208 execute instructions to support host terminal functions.For example, for a cellular telephone host device, the processing module206 performs user interface operations and executes host softwareprograms among other operations.

The radio interface 210 allows data to be received from and sent to theradio 204. For data received from the radio 204 (e.g., inbound data),the radio interface 210 provides the data to the processing module 206for further processing and/or routing to the output interface 214. Theoutput interface 214 provides connectivity to output display device(s)such as a display, monitor, speakers, et cetera such that the receiveddata may be displayed. The radio interface 210 also provides data fromthe processing module 206 to the radio 204. The processing module 206may receive the outbound data from an input device such as a keyboard,keypad, microphone, et cetera via the input interface 212 or generatethe data itself. For data received via the input interface 212, theprocessing module 206 may perform a corresponding host function on thedata and/or route it to the radio 204 via the radio interface 210.

Radio 204 includes a host interface 220, baseband processing module(baseband processor) 222, analog-to-digital converter 224,filtering/gain module 226, down conversion module 228, low noiseamplifier 230, local oscillation module 232, memory 234,digital-to-analog converter 236, filtering/gain module 238,up-conversion module 240, power amplifier 242, RX filter module 264, TXfilter module 258, TX/RX switch module 260, and antenna 248. Antenna 248may be a single antenna that is shared by transmit and receive paths(half-duplex) or may include separate antennae for the transmit path andreceive path (full-duplex). The antenna implementation will depend onthe particular standard with which the wireless communication device iscompliant.

The baseband processing module 222 in combination with operationalinstructions stored in memory 234, execute digital receiver functionsand digital transmitter functions. The digital receiver functionsinclude, but are not limited to, digital intermediate frequency tobaseband conversion, demodulation, constellation demapping,descrambling, and/or decoding. The digital transmitter functionsinclude, but are not limited to, encoding, scrambling, constellationmapping, modulation, and/or digital baseband to IF conversion. Thetransmit and receive functions provided by the baseband processingmodule 222 may be implemented using shared processing devices and/orindividual processing devices. Processing devices may includemicroprocessors, micro-controllers, digital signal processors,microcomputers, central processing units, field programmable gatearrays, programmable logic devices, state machines, logic circuitry,analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or any device that manipulatessignals (analog and/or digital) based on operational instructions. Thememory 234 may be a single memory device or a plurality of memorydevices. Such a memory device may be a read-only memory, random accessmemory, volatile memory, non-volatile memory, static memory, dynamicmemory, flash memory, and/or any device that stores digital information.Note that when the baseband processing module 222 implements one or moreof its functions via a state machine, analog circuitry, digitalcircuitry, and/or logic circuitry, the memory storing the correspondingoperational instructions is embedded with the circuitry comprising thestate machine, analog circuitry, digital circuitry, and/or logiccircuitry.

In operation, the radio 204 receives outbound data 250 from the hostprocessing components via the host interface 220. The host interface 220routes the outbound data 250 to the baseband processing module 222,which processes the outbound data 250 in accordance with a particularwireless communication standard (e.g., UMTS/WCDMA, GSM, GPRS, EDGE, etcetera) to produce digital transmission formatted data 252. The digitaltransmission formatted data 252 is a digital baseband signal or adigital low IF signal, where the low IF will be in the frequency rangeof zero to a few kilo-Hertz (kHz)/mega-Hertz (MHz).

The digital-to-analog converter 236 converts the digital transmissionformatted data 252 from the digital domain to the analog domain. Thefiltering/gain module 238 filters and/or adjusts the gain of the analogsignal prior to providing it to the up-conversion module 240. Theup-conversion module 240 directly converts the analog baseband or low IFsignal into an RF signal based on a transmitter local oscillation 254provided by local oscillation module 232. The power amplifier 242amplifies the RF signal to produce outbound RF signal 256, which isfiltered by the TX filter module 258. The TX/RX switch module 260receives the amplified and filtered RF signal from the TX filter module258 and provides the output RF signal 256 signal to the antenna 248,which transmits the outbound RF signal 256 to a targeted device such asa base station 103-106.

The radio 204 also receives an inbound RF signal 262, which wastransmitted by a base station and received via the antenna 248, theTX/RX switch module 260, and the RX filter module 264. The low noiseamplifier 230 receives the inbound RF signal 262 and amplifies theinbound RF signal 262 to produce an amplified inbound RF signal. The lownoise amplifier 230 provides the amplified inbound RF signal to the downconversion module 228, which converts the amplified inbound RF signalinto an inbound low IF signal or baseband signal based on a receiverlocal oscillation 266 provided by local oscillation module 232. The downconversion module 228 provides the inbound low IF signal (or basebandsignal) to the filtering/gain module 226, which filters and/or adjuststhe gain of the signal before providing it to the analog to digitalconverter 224. The analog-to-digital converter 224 converts the filteredinbound low IF signal (or baseband signal) from the analog domain to thedigital domain to produce digital reception formatted data 268. Thebaseband processing module 222 demodulates, demaps, descrambles, and/ordecodes the digital reception formatted data 268 to recapture inbounddata 270 in accordance with the particular wireless communicationstandard being implemented by radio 204. The host interface 220 providesthe recaptured inbound data 270 to the host processing components 202via the radio interface 210.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating components of a basebandprocessing module 222 according to an embodiment of the presentinvention. Components of the baseband processing module (basebandprocessor) 222 include a processor 302, a memory interface 304, onboardmemory 306, a downlink/uplink interface 308, TX processing components310, and a TX interface 312. The baseband processing module 222 furtherincludes an RX interface 314, a cell searcher module 316, a multi-pathscanner module 318, a rake receiver combiner module 320, and a bit levelprocessing module 322 that performs deinterleaving operations, ratematching operations, DTX processing operations, convolution/Turboencoding/decoding operations, CRC operations, etc. The basebandprocessing module 222 couples in some embodiments to external memory234. However, in other embodiments, memory 306 services the memoryrequirements if the baseband processing module 222.

As was previously described with reference to FIG. 2, the basebandprocessing module 222 receives outbound data 250 from coupled hostprocessing components 202 and provides inbound data 270 to the coupledhost processing components 202. The baseband processing module 222provides digital formatted transmission data (baseband TX signal) 252 toa coupled RF front end. The baseband processing module 222 receivesdigital reception formatted data (baseband RX signal) 268 from thecoupled RF front end. As was previously described with reference to FIG.2, an ADC 222 produces the digital reception formatted data (baseband RXdata) 268 while the DAC 236 of the RF front end receives the digitaltransmission formatted data (baseband TX signal) 252 from the basebandprocessing module 222.

The downlink/uplink interface 308 is operable to receive the outbounddata 250 from coupled host processing components, e.g., the hostprocessing component 202 via host interface 220. The downlink/uplinkinterface 308 is operable to provide inbound data 270 to the coupledhost processing components 202 via the host interface 220. As the readerwill appreciate, the baseband processing module 222 may be formed on asingle integrated circuit with the other components of radio 204.Alternately, the radio 204 (including the baseband processing module222) may be formed on a single integrated circuit along with the hostprocessing components 202. Thus, in such case, all components of FIG. 2excluding the antenna, display, speakers, et cetera and keyboard,keypad, microphone, et cetera may be formed on a single integratedcircuit. However, in still other embodiments, the baseband processingmodule 222 and the host processing components 202 may be formed on oneor more separate integrated circuit(s). Many differing integratedcircuit constructs are possible without departing from the teachings ofthe present invention. TX processing components 310 and TX interface 312communicatively couple to the RF front end as illustrated in FIG. 2 andto the downlink/uplink interface 308. The TX processing components 310and TX interface 312 are operable to receive the outbound data from thedownlink/uplink interface 304, to process the outbound data to producethe baseband TX signal 252 and to output the baseband TX signal 252 tothe RF front end as was described with reference to FIG. 2. Each of thecomponents of FIG. 3 may be implemented as hardware, software, or acombination of hardware and software. Based upon the particularfunctions performed by the components of FIG. 3, some of the componentsare most efficiently implemented in hardware, some most efficientlyimplemented in software, and some most efficiently implemented as acombination of hardware and software.

FIG. 4A is a graph illustrating diagrammatically the power spectraldensity of WCDMA RF band(s) 400 supporting multiple RF carriers 402,404, and 406. The WCDMA RF band(s) 400 extend across a frequencyspectrum and include WCDMA RF carriers 402, 404, and 406. According toone aspect of the present invention, the cell searcher module 316 of thebaseband processing module 222 of an RF transceiver that supports WCDMAoperations according to the present invention is operable to scan theWCDMA RF band(s) 400 to identify WCDMA RF energy of at least one WCDMAcarrier 402, 404, or 406. During initial cell search operations, thecell searcher module 316 will, in combination with other components ofthe baseband processing module 222, identify a strongest WCDMA carrier,e.g., 404. Then, the cell searcher module 316 synchronizes to WCDMAsignals within the WCDMA carrier 404. These WCDMA signals correspond toa particular base station cell or sector. In these initial cell searchsynchronization operations, the cell searcher module 316 preferablysynchronizes to a strongest cell/sector.

WCDMA signals transmitted from multiple base stations/sectors may use acommon WCDMA RF carrier 404. Alternately, the WCDMA signals fromdiffering base stations/sectors may use differing WCDMA carriers, e.g.,402 or 406. According to the present invention, the cell searcher module316 and the baseband processing module 222 are operable to synchronizeto WCDMA signals from differing cells/sectors operating in one or moreof the WCDMA RF bands 402, 404, or 406. Such synchronization operationsoccur not only for initial cell search but for neighbor cell search ordetected cell search operations.

FIG. 4B is a block diagram diagrammatically illustrating the timing ofvarious channels of a WCDMA system employed for cell searching and basestation synchronization according to the present invention. The WCDMAsignal illustrated has a 15 slot frame structure that extends across 10ms in time. The WCDMA signal includes a Synchronization Channel (SCH)and a Common Pilot Channel (CPICH), which are introduced in the downlinkto assist wireless transceivers in performing cell search operations.The SCH is further split into a primary SCH (PSCH) and a secondary SCH(SSCH). The PSCH carries a primary synchronization code (PSC) which ischosen to have good periodic auto-correlation properties and thesecondary SCH (SSCH) carries a secondary synchronization code (SSC). ThePSCH and the SSCH are constructed such that their cyclic-shifts areunique so that reliable slot and frame synchronization can be achieved.The PSCH and the SSCH are 256-chips long with special formats and appear1/10 of each time slot. The rest of time slot is Common Control PhysicalChannel (CCPCH). As shown in FIG. 4A, the PSCH and the SSCH aretransmitted once in the same position in every slot. The PSCH code isthe same for all time slots, and therefore is used to detect slotboundary. The SSCH is used to identify scrambling code group and frameboundary. Thus, the SSCH sequences vary from slot to slot and are codedby a code-book with 64 code-words (each representing a code-group). TheCPICH carries pre-defined symbols with a fixed rate (30 kbps, hence 10symbols per time slot) and spreading factor of 256. The channelizationcode for CPICH is fixed to the 0^(th) code.

The cell searcher module 316 of the baseband processing module 222 of aWCDMA RF transceiver is operable to: (1) scan for WCDMA energy within abaseband RX signal received at the RX interface corresponding to theWCDMA signal; (2) acquire a slot synchronization to the WCDMA signalbased upon correlation with the PSCH of the WCDMA signal; (3) acquireframe synchronization to, and identify a code group of, the receivedWCDMA signal based upon correlation with the SSCH of the WCDMA signal;and (4) identify the scrambling code of the WCDMA signal based uponcorrelation with the CPICH of the WCDMA signal.

FIG. 5A is a graph illustrating an example of a multi-path delay spreadat a first time, T1. As is known, in wireless communication systems, atransmitted signal may take various routes in propagating from an RFtransmitter to an RF receiver. Referring briefly again to FIG. 1,transmissions from base station 103 to wireless terminal 116 may takemultiple paths with each of these multiple paths arriving in acorresponding time frame. These multiple received copies of thetransmitted signal are typically referred to as “multi-path” signalcomponents. Referring again to FIG. 5A, an example of a delay spreadthat includes multi-path components and their corresponding signalstrength for time T1 is shown.

Serving cell signal components 504 include multi-path components 508,510, 512, and 514 that are received at respective times with respect toa periodic reference time. Neighbor cell signal components 506 includemulti-path signal components 516, 518, and 520. Note that the servingcell signal components 504 and neighbor cell signal components arrive atdiffering times with respect to the periodic reference time since theyare not time aligned. As is known, multi-path components of atransmitted RF signal arrive in a time skewed manner at the RF receiver.As is also known, the number of received multi-path components and thesignal strength and signal to interference ratio of each multi-pathcomponent varies over time.

FIG. 5B is a graph illustrating the example of the multi-path delayspread of FIG. 5A at a second time, T2. Because the characteristics ofthe channel from the RF transmitter to the RF receiver changes overtime, so do serving cell path signal components 504 and neighbor cellsignal components 506. Thus, for example, the multi-path component 508of FIG. 5B, while having the same time relationship to the periodicreference time as multi-path component 508 as shown in FIG. 5A, has agreater signal-to-interference ratio or signal-to-noise ratio than itdid in FIG. 5A. Further, multi-path component 510 is missing, multi-pathcomponent 512 is smaller in magnitude, and multi-path component 514 isgreater in magnitude than are their counterparts of FIG. 5B. Inaddition, serving cell signal components 504 include a new multi-pathcomponent 552 that is existent at time T2 but it was not existent attime T1. The process of path components existing and then ceasing toexist is often referred to as the “Birth-Death” phenomenon.

The neighbor cell multi-path signal component 506 at time T2 of FIG. 5Balso differ from those at time T1 of FIG. 5A. In such case, multi-pathcomponents 516 and 518 have differing magnitudes at time T2 than theydid at time T1. Further, multi-path component 520 which was strong attime T1 does not exist at time T2. Moreover, new multi-path component554 at time T2 exists where it did not exist at time T1. The cellsearcher module 316, multi-path scanner module 318, and rake receivercombiner module 320 track the existence of these multi-path components,synchronize to some of these multi-path components, and receive data viaat least some of these multi-path components.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart illustrating operations of a wireless terminal insearching for, finding, synchronizing to, and receiving data from a basestation according to an embodiment of the present invention. Theoperations 600 of FIG. 6 are performed by the cell searcher module 316,the multi-path scanner module 318, and the rake receiver combiner module320 of the baseband processing module 222 of the radio 204 of a wirelessterminal constructed according to the present invention. The operations600 are initiated upon start-up or reset or when the RF terminal isotherwise detecting a serving cell within a WCDMA system. Operationcommences with the RF transceiver performing an RF sweep of WCDMA RFbands to detect WCDMA energy (Step 602). The RF sweep of the WCDMA RFbands is a collective effort between the RF front-end components of theRF transceiver radio 204 shown in FIG. 2 as well as the basebandprocessing module 222 of the radio 204 of FIG. 2. Referring to FIG. 6and FIG. 3 jointly, in making the RF sweep of the WCDMA RF bands todetect WCDMA energy, the RF front-end tunes to various RF channelswithin the WCDMA RF bands 400 as shown and discussed with reference toFIG. 4A. With particular references to the components of the basebandprocessing module 222, the cell searcher module 316 may interact withthe processor 302 in order to detect WCDMA energy during the RF sweep ofthe WCDMA RF bands.

After this RF sweep has been completed at Step 602, the processor 302,in cooperation with the cell searcher module 316 and the RF front-endcomponents, identifies a particular RF band, e.g., 404 of FIG. 4A, inwhich to detect and synchronize to a WCDMA signal. The cell searchermodule 316 of the baseband processing module 222 performs Phase I, PhaseII, and Phase III operations in an initial cell search operations (Step604). In performing its initial cell search operations, the cellsearcher module 316 acquires slot synchronization to the WCDMA signalbased upon correlation with the PSCH of the WCDMA signal in its Phase Ioperations. Then, in the Phase II operation, the cell searcher module316 acquires frame synchronization to, and identifies a code group of,the received WCDMA signal based upon correlation with the SSCH of theWCDMA signal. Then, in its Phase III operations, the cell searchermodule 316 identifies the scrambling code of the WCDMA signal based uponcorrelation with the CPICH of the WCDMA signal. The manner in which thePhase I, II, and III operations of the cell searcher module 316 areperformed, and the structured used thereby, is described more fully inco-pending application Ser. No. 11/221,145, filed on Sep. 6, 2005. Theresults of the Phase I, II, and III operations performed by the cellsearcher module 316 yield timing information regarding at least onemulti-path signal component of the WCDMA signal. In one embodiment, thePhase I, II, and III operations yield timing information and thescrambling code of a strongest multipath component of a WCDMA signal ofthe selected WCDMA RF carrier.

Operation continues with the cell searcher module 316 passing the timingand scrambling code information to the multi-path scanner module 318(Step 606). This information may be passed directly or via the processor302. The multi-path scanner module 318 then locates and monitorsmulti-path signal components of the WCDMA transmissions (Step 608). Themulti-path scanner module 318 then provides the multi-path componenttiming information to the rake receiver combiner module 320 (Step 610).This information may be passed directly or via the processor 302. Therake receiver combiner module 320 then receives information carried bycontrol and traffic channels of the WCDMA signal of the servingcell/sector (Step 612). The RF transceiver continues to receive controland traffic channel information from a serving cell until it decides toeither find a new serving cell via neighbor search operations, it losesthe signal from the serving cell, or upon another operationaldetermination in which it decides to either terminate receipt of thesignal from the serving cell or the carrier is lost. When the signal islost (Step 614) or in another situation which the RF transceiver decidesto move to a different RF carrier, operation proceeds again to Step 602.However, if the RF transceiver determines that continued operation ofthe particular RF carrier and for the particular serving cell shouldcontinue, operation continues to Step 610 again.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating operations of a multi-path scannermodule according to an embodiment of the present invention. Theseoperations 700 commence with the multi-path scanner module receivingtiming and scrambling code information regarding an expected multi-pathsignal component of the WCDMA signal (Step 702). This timing andscrambling code information in one operation is received from the cellsearcher module 316. After the multi-path scanner module has receivedthe timing and scrambling code information at Step 702, the multi-pathscanner module establishes a search window based upon the timinginformation and regarding an expected multi-path signal component of theWCDMA signal (Step 704). As will be described further with reference toFIG. 8, the multi-path scanner module is interested in searching formulti-path signal components of the WCDMA signal within a search windowcorresponding to an expected length of the corresponding channel.

Then, the multi-path scanner module 318 searches for a plurality ofmulti-path signal components of the WCDMA signal within the searchwindow (Step 706). In one particular embodiment of the presentinvention, the multi-path signal components of the WCDMA signals arefound by correlating the WCDMA signal within the search window with theexpected CPICH channel. The CPICH of the WCDMA signal has a known symbolpattern, has been spread using a known spreading sequence, and has beenscrambled according to the scrambling code received at Step 702. Thus,with all of this information known, the multi-path scanner module 318may search for the CPICH at all possible alignment positions within thesearch window. The alignment positions within the search window at whichthe CPICH is “found” represent the multi-path signal components of theWCDMA signal within the search window.

Then, the multi-path scanner module determines timing and signal pathstrength information of the plurality of multi-path signal components tothe WCDMA signal within the search window (Step 708). Finally, themulti-path scanner module optionally determines the noise floor from theWCDMA signal within the search window (Step 710). Generally, at leastone multi-path signal component of the WCDMA signal will appear withinthe search window. More typically, a plurality of multi-path signalcomponents of the WCDMA signal will appear within the search window,each having a respective timing and signal strength associatedtherewith. Locations within the search window that do not have pathspresent represent the noise floor for the search window. Thus, at Step710, the multi-path scanner module also is able to determine the noisefloor when locating multi-path signal components within the searchwindow. From Step 710, operation returns to Step 702. According to thepresent invention, the multi-path scanner module is operable to searchfor a WCDMA signal transmitted from one base station cell or sectorwithin each time slot. Thus, the multi-path scanner module can searchfor different WCDMA signals transmitted from differing base station inadjacent slots. Further, long term timing information may be determinedby the multi-path scanner module 318 searching for multi-path signalcomponents of the WCDMA signal in multiple slots and/or slots inmultiple frames.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a rake receiver combiner moduleaccording to an embodiment of the present invention. The rake receivercombiner module 320 communicatively couples to the RX interface 314 aswas shown with reference to FIG. 3. The rake receiver combiner module320 includes control logic 802, an input buffer 804, a rake despreadermodule 806, an output buffer 808, and may include a post despreadingprocessing module 810. The input buffer 804 communicatively couples tothe control logic 802 and to the RX interface 314. The input buffer 804is operable to receive and store baseband RX signal samples. The inputbuffer 804 may be any type of buffer structure in which the RX signalsamples are stored and which may be accessed to read and write data. Inthe embodiment illustrated, the input buffer 804 receives data from theRX interface 314 and produces data to the rake despreader module 806.

The rake despreader module 806 communicatively couples to the controllogic 802 and to the input buffer 804. The rake despreader module 806 isoperable to despread the baseband RX signal samples in a time dividedfashion to produce channel symbols including pilot channel symbols andphysical channel symbols. The output buffer 808 communicatively couplesto the control logic 802 and the rake despreader module 806. Stored inthe output buffer 808 are the channel symbols.

As is known, in a WCDMA system on the transmit side, channel symbols arespread using a channel spreading code and then scrambled using ascrambling code. Multiple channels that have been spread may be combinedand jointly scrambled prior to the transmission. The function of therake despreader module 320 is to produce channel symbols of multiplechannels from the baseband RX signal samples by descrambling and thendespreading the baseband RX signal samples using respective channelspreading sequences and one or more scrambling codes. In performing thedescrambling and despreading operations, each chip of the RX signalsamples is descrambled and despread and the descrambled/despread chipsare accumulated over the spreading interval. The channel symbols arestored in the output buffer 808.

Once the accumulation process has been completed, the channel symbolsare further processed by other components of the baseband processingmodule (or by other components of the baseband processor 222) to extractdata, extract timing information, and to perform a wide variety of otherfunctions. The post despreading processing module 810 is operable toperform at least one post despreading processing function on the channelsymbols. Such post despreading processing functions may include channelestimation, channel equalization, signal strength estimation, gaincontrol, diversity combining, power control bit extraction, frequencyoffset estimation, frequency correction, and phase correction amongother processing functions. In various embodiments, these postdespreading processing functions may be partially performed by the postdespreading module 810 and further performed by other components of thebaseband processing module 222.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating components of a rake despreadermodule of the rake receiver combiner module of FIG. 8 according to anembodiment of the present invention. The rake despreading module 806 mayinclude a state controller 902, a despreader engine 904, and a statememory 906. The state controller 902 communicatively couples to thecontrol logic 802. The despreader engine 904 communicatively couples tothe state controller 902. The state memory 906 communicatively couplesto the despreader engine 904. The depsreader engine 904 further couplesto the input buffer 804 from which it receives baseband RX signalsamples. The despreader engine 904 also couples to the output buffer 808to which it outputs the channel symbols and/or the chip duration channelsymbols. Details of the despreader engine 904 are further illustrated inFIG. 10. The state controller 902 includes control circuitry operable tocontrol the despreader engine. The state memory 906 stores datapertinent to the operations performed by the rake despreading module806.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating components of a despreaderengine of the rake despreader module of FIG. 9 according to anembodiment of the present invention. The despreader engine 904 includesa scrambling code sequence generator 1002, a first multiplier 1004, achannel code sequence generator 1006, a second multiplier 1008, and anaccumulator 1010. The scrambling code sequence generator 1002 isoperable to generate a scrambling code sequence based upon input fromthe state controller 902. The first multiplier 1004 is operable tomultiply the baseband RX signal samples with the scrambling codesequence generated by the scrambling code sequence generator 1002 toproduce descrambled RX signal samples. In another embodiment, the firstmultiplier 1004 may be replaced with an adder. Thus, the firstmultiplier 1004 (adder in another embodiment) may be referred to as afirst combiner. The channel code sequence generator 1006 is operable togenerate a channel code sequence based upon inputs from the statecontroller 902. The second multiplier 1008 is operable to multiply thedescrambled baseband RX signal samples with the channel code sequencegenerated by the channel code sequence generator 1006 to producedespread RX signal samples. In another embodiment, the second multiplier1008 may be replaced with an adder. Thus, the second multiplier 1008(adder in another embodiment) may be referred to as a second combiner.Finally, the accumulator 1010 is operable to accumulate the despread RXsignal samples over the spreading interval to produce the channelsymbols.

The input buffer 804 stores baseband RX signal samples extending overmultiple chip periods. In one particular embodiment, the baseband RXsignal samples are over sampled such that the duration of each of thebaseband RX signal samples corresponds to a one-half of a chip. Thus,when performing its despreading operations, the despreader engine 904accesses the input buffer 804 at appropriate points to select theappropriate baseband RX signal samples. As is generally known, a rakereceiver combiner module attempts to extract the channel symbols fromthe WCDMA signal for a single path component. Referring again to FIG.5A, serving cell multi-path signal components 504 have path components508, 510, 512, and 514. In despreading the baseband RX signal, thedespreader engine aligns with a particular path component, e.g., 512,for any particular despreading operation. Thus, for one despreadingoperation, the despreading operations are aligned with one pathcomponent, e.g., 512 while for another despreading operation, thedespreading operations are aligned with another path component, e.g.,path 514. Because this alignment corresponds to particular selection ofRX signal samples from the input buffer 804, the state controller 902and the control logic 802 coordinate the operations of the despreaderengine 804 to read and operate upon an appropriate set of baseband RXsignal samples that are stored in the input buffer 804 for theparticular despreading operations performed.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating the logical rake fingers of arake receiver combiner module according to an embodiment of the presentinvention. The rake despreader module implements a plurality of logicalrake fingers during a particular period of operation. The plurality oflogical rake fingers may include a plurality of full logical rakefingers 1104, 1106, 1108, and 1110 as well as a plurality of minilogical rake fingers 1112 and 1114. These logical fingers 1110-1114 areimplemented by common hardware elements of the rake despreader module,e.g., input buffer 804, rake despreader module 806, output buffer 808,and post despreading processing module 810 and are not distinct hardwarecomponents of the rake despreader module. Thus, all of these logicalrake fingers 1104-1114 are implemented by the structure previouslyillustrated in FIGS. 8, 9 and 10. As will be further described withreference to FIGS. 12-14, these logical rake fingers are associated withparticular path components of the WCDMA signal as was previouslyillustrated with reference to FIGS. 5A and 5B, although they are notassociated with unique hardware elements, i.e., the hardware elementsare shared over time in a time divided fashion.

Each of the logical rake fingers 1104-1114 operates upon the RX signalsamples 1102 stored in input buffer 804. However, each of the fulllogical rake fingers 1104-1114 produces a corresponding output 1116-1126that is unique to a respective WCDMA signal path component. Theseoutputs 1116-1126 may include both pilot channel symbols and physicalchannel symbols. Such outputs according to one embodiment will befurther illustrated in FIGS. 12 and 13 and described with referencethereto.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating logical components of a fulllogical rake finger of a rake receiver combiner module according to anembodiment of the present invention. The full logical rake finger 1200includes delay elements 1204 and 1206 and CPICH despreaders 1208, 1210,and 1212 that perform pilot channel descrambling/despreading operations.In coordination with the delay elements 1204 and 1206, CPICH despreader1208 performs an early despreading operation with respect to a pathcomponent of the WCDMA signal. Further, CPICH despreader 1212 performsan on-time despreading of the path of the WCDMA signal. Further, CPICHdespreader 1210 performs a late despreading of the WCDMA signal for theCPICH. As was previously described, the RX signal samples includemultiple samples for each particular chip. Thus, with the combination ofthe delay elements 1204 and 1206 and the CPICH despreader 1208, 1210,and 1212, the logical rake finger can detect the alignment of thedespreader to the path component of the WCDMA signal within a partialchip duration, e.g., one-half chip duration. These operations support afine alignment in time of the rake despreader module for traffic channeldespreading, which results in better channel symbol production.Discernment of the time alignment as well as the other post despreadingprocessing functions are performed by the post despreading processingfunctions element 1222. The post despreading processing functionselement 1222 produce output 1 1232, output 2 1234 and output N 1236. Thepost despreading processing functions 1222 may produce additionaloutputs as well as have been previously described with reference to thepost despreading processing module of FIG. 8.

Still referring to FIG. 12, the full logical rake finger 1200 includesthree physical channel despreaders 1214, 1216, and 1218. Each of thesephysical channel despreaders 1214-1218 descrambles, despreads, andextracts channel symbols for a respective physical channel. Physicalchannel symbol processing blocks 1224, 1226, and 1228 couple to physicalchannel despreaders 1214, 1216, and 1218 and perform symbol processingoperations. The Physical channel symbol processing blocks 1224, 1226,and 1228 produce outputs 1238, 1240, and 1242, respectively.

FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating logical components of a minilogical rake finger of a rake receiver combiner module according to anembodiment of the present invention. The mini logical rake finger 1300includes some of the same elements as does the full logical rake finger1200 of FIG. 12. In particular, the mini logical rake finger 1300includes delay elements 1304, 1306, and CPICH despreaders 1308, 1310,and 1312. This combination of elements provides early, on-time, and latepilot channel despreading operations. The output of the CPICHdespreaders 1308, 1310, and 1312 is received by post despreadingprocessing functions 1322 which produces outputs 1332, 1334, and 1336.As contrasted to the full logical rake finger of FIG. 12, the minilogical rake finger 1300 of FIG. 13 includes only a single physicalchannel despreader 1314, single physical channel symbol processing 1324,and a single physical channel output 1338.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram illustrating the manner in which a rakereceiver combiner module of an embodiment of the present inventionsequentially performs logical rake finger despreading operations. Withthe illustrated example, the time divided fashion in which the rakedespreader module despreads the baseband RX signal samples occurs overtwo chip intervals 1402 and 1404. As is shown, over these two chipintervals 1402 and 1404, four full logical rake finger despreadingoperations 1406, 1408, 1410, and 1412 and two mini logical rake fingerdespreading operations 1414 and 1416 are performed. While a particulartime alignment is shown with regard to the chip intervals 1402 and 1404,this is for ease of the description only and such time alignment may notoccur in practice. The actual duration in which the logical rake fingerdespreading operations are performed is based on the processingcapability of the particular embodiment. Thus, in some embodiments,fewer or greater numbers of logical rake finger despreading operationsmay be performed within the multiple chip intervals. Further, the numberof chip intervals during which the logical rake finger despreadingoperations performed may be other than two. It could be a single chipinterval or more than two chip intervals.

As the reader will appreciate though, the logical operations performedover the multiple chip intervals will perform despreading for thosechips already received during a corresponding number of prior chipintervals. Thus, as is shown in FIG. 14, the operations 1406-1416 areperformed during chip intervals 1402 and 1404. The despreadingoperations, of course, are performed on chips previously received by thebaseband processing module 222 and stored in the input buffer 804. Inthis case, while the baseband processing module 222 is receiving newchips of a spreading interval, it is despreading previously receivedchips of the spreading interval. Thus, the baseband processing module222 and particularly, the rake receiver combining module 320 will becontinually operating upon chips of the spreading interval and suchdespreading will be performed on chips in the spreading interval afterreceipt. While the despread chips cannot be accumulated until thespreading interval is complete, they can be operated on without waitingfor all chips in the spreading interval to be received.

As was previously described with reference to FIG. 12, full logical rakefinger despreading operations 1406 of FIG. 14 include early pilotchannel despreading operations 1418, on-time pilot channel despreadingoperations 1422, late pilot channel despreading operations 1420, firstphysical channel despreading operations 1424, second physical channeldespreading operations 1426, and third physical channel despreadingoperations 1428. The full logical rake finger operations 1406 correspondto the structure 1200 illustrated in FIG. 12. Mini logical rake fingeroperations 1416 of FIG. 14 correspond to the mini logical rake fingerstructure 1300 of FIG. 13. These mini logical rake finger despreadingoperations include early pilot channel despreading operations 1430, latepilot channel despreading operations 1432, on-time pilot channeldespreading operations 1434, and a single physical channel despreadingoperation 1436.

FIG. 15 is a flow chart illustrating the sequential performance oflogical rake finger despreading operations according to an embodiment ofthe present invention. The operations 1500 of FIG. 15 may correspond toany of the logical rake finger operations 1418-1428 of the full logicalrake finger operations 1406 and/or to the mini logical rake fingerdespreading operations 1414 or 1416 of FIG. 14. The operations of FIG.15 commence with determining a timing offset for the logical rake fingerdespreading operations (Step 1502). As has been previously described,each of the logical despreading operations attempts to despread aparticular path component of the WCDMA signal, for which alignment tothe baseband RX signal samples stored in the input buffer is required.Based upon this timing offset, baseband RX signal samples are retrievedfrom the input buffer (Step 1504). Then, if an early, on-time, or latepilot channel spreading operation is to be performed, a time offset byone sample (multiple samples) may be performed (Step 1506). Whendespreading of a physical channel is being performed, such realignmentof the samples would not be employed.

Next, operation includes descrambling the baseband RX signal samplesusing a corresponding scrambling code sequence (Step 1508). Then,operation includes despreading the descrambled RX signal samples using acorresponding channel spreading sequence (Step 1510). Then, operationincludes accumulating the descrambled and despread RX signal samples(Step 1512). When operation 1512 is complete, it is determined whetherthe logical rake finger operations have been completed (Step 1514). Fora full logical rake finger, the early, on-time, and late pilot channeldespreading operations are performed and the plurality of physicalchannel despreading operations are performed. When these operations arecompleted, operation ends. For the mini logical rake finger despreadingoperations, the early, on-time, and late pilot channel despreadingoperations are performed. Then, a single physical channel despreadingoperation is performed. This would complete the operations from the minifinger. Thus, the operations of Steps 1506-1512 are performed for eachof these pilot and physical channel despreading operations for oneembodiment.

FIG. 16 is a block diagram illustrating another embodiment of a rakedespreader module constructed and operating according to the presentinvention. The rake despreader module 1600 includes an input stagingregister 1602 that receives the RX signal samples. A Pseudo-Noise (PN)sequence generator 1604 generates a PN sequence that a despreader 1606employs to despread appropriate RX signal samples. With one construct,the despreader 1606 despreads two symbols in each despreading operation.A post-despread delay line 1608, a channel estimator 1610, and anenergies and metrics module 1612 receive the despread output of thedespreader 1606 and perform corresponding operations. The energies andmetrics module 1612 also receives the output of the channel estimator1610. An STTD decoder 1614 receives the outputs of the channel estimator1610 and the post-despread delay line 1608 and operates upon the delayeddespread samples using a channel estimate produced by the channelestimator 1610.

A delay matching combiner memory 1616 receives the output of the STTDdecoder 1614 and performs combining operations on the decoded samples. APCICH & AICH decoder/TFCI accumulator/signal and interference estimationbock 1618 receives the output from the delay matching combiner memory1616 and performs corresponding operations. A soft symbol normalization,quantization, and parallel to serial converter 1620 also receives theoutput of the delay matching combiner memory 1616 and performscorresponding operations and produces corresponding output(s).

FIG. 17 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a combinermodule of the embodiment of the rake despreader module of FIG. 16. Asshown, the combiner module 1616 receives the output of the STTD decoder1614. The combiner module 1616 includes an adder 1702, storage 1704, and1706 that are intercoupled to provide the operations of the combinermodule 1616. The combiner module 1616 produces both a data output and adata valid output.

The principles of the present invention apply equally well to otherwireless communication systems that require rake receiver typeoperations. These types of systems may be CDMA systems, other spreadspectrum systems, Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplex (OFDM)systems, and other types of wireless communication systems. While thedescription herein has focused on WCDMA systems, other embodiments woulddirectly apply to these other types of wireless communication systems.

The foregoing description of a preferred embodiment of the invention hasbeen presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is notintended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise formdisclosed, and modifications and variations are possible in light of theabove teachings or may be acquired from practice of the invention. Theembodiment was chosen and described in order to explain the principlesof the invention and its practical application to enable one skilled inthe art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with variousmodifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It isintended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claimsappended hereto, and their equivalents.

1. An apparatus, comprising: a scrambling code sequence generator forgenerating a scrambling code sequence; a first combiner for combiningsignal samples with the scrambling code sequence thereby generatingdescrambled signal samples; a channel code sequence generator forgenerating a channel code sequence; a second combiner for combining thedescrambled signal samples with the channel code sequence therebygenerating despread signal samples; and an accumulator for accumulatingthe despread signal samples over a spreading interval corresponding tothe signal samples thereby generating channel symbols.
 2. The apparatusof claim 1, further comprising: a state controller, communicativelycoupled to the scrambling code sequence generator and the channel codesequence generator, for providing first input to the scrambling codesequence generator and second input to the channel code sequencegenerator; and wherein: the scrambling code sequence generatorgenerating the scrambling code sequence based on the first input; andthe channel code sequence generator generating the channel code sequencebased on the second input.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, furthercomprising: an input buffer, communicatively coupled to the firstcombiner, for storing the signal samples; and control logic,communicatively coupled to the state controller, for coordinatingoperations of the input buffer and at least one of the scrambling codesequence generator, the first combiner, the channel code sequencegenerator, the second combiner, and the accumulator.
 4. The apparatus ofclaim 1, further comprising: a radio frequency (RF) front end forreceiving a signal from a communication channel and generating basebandsignal there from; and an RF interface, communicatively coupled to theRF front end, for processing the baseband signal thereby generating thesignal samples.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein: the signalreceived from the communication channel is a wideband code divisionmultiple access (WCDAM) signal; and the signal samples include chips inthe spreading interval.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: theapparatus performing first logical rake finger dispreading operationswithin a first processing period; and the apparatus performing secondlogical rake finger dispreading operations within a second processingperiod.
 7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein: the first logical rakefinger despreading operations including at least one of: early pilotchannel despreading operations; on-time pilot channel despreadingoperations; late pilot channel despreading operations; and a pluralityof physical channel despreading operations; and the second logical rakefinger despreading operations including at least one of: early pilotchannel despreading operations; on-time pilot channel despreadingoperations; late pilot channel despreading operations; and a pluralityof physical channel despreading operations.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1,further comprising: an output buffer, communicatively coupled to theaccumulator, for storing the channel symbols; and a post dispreadingprocessing module, communicatively coupled to the output buffer, forprocessing the channel symbols.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:the apparatus is a wireless terminal or a base station within a cellularwireless communication system.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:the apparatus is a cellular telephone, a computer, a laptop computer, adesktop computer, or a data terminal.
 11. An apparatus, comprising: aninput buffer for storing signal samples received via an radio frequency(RF) interface; a scrambling code sequence generator for generating ascrambling code sequence based on first input; a first combiner,communicatively coupled to the input buffer, for combining signalsamples with the scrambling code sequence thereby generating descrambledsignal samples; a channel code sequence generator for generating achannel code sequence based on second input; a second combiner forcombining the descrambled signal samples with the channel code sequencethereby generating despread signal samples; an accumulator foraccumulating the despread signal samples over a spreading intervalcorresponding to the signal samples thereby generating channel symbols;a state controller, communicatively coupled to the scrambling codesequence generator and the channel code sequence generator, forproviding the first input to the scrambling code sequence generator andthe second input to the channel code sequence generator; and an outputbuffer, communicatively coupled to the accumulator, for storing thechannel symbols.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising: apost dispreading processing module, communicatively coupled to theoutput buffer, for processing the channel symbols.
 13. The apparatus ofclaim 11, wherein: the apparatus is a wireless terminal or a basestation operative within a cellular wireless communication system. 14.The apparatus of claim 11, wherein: the apparatus is a cellulartelephone, a computer, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, or a dataterminal.
 15. A method, comprising: generating a scrambling codesequence; operating a first combiner for combining signal samples withthe scrambling code sequence thereby generating descrambled signalsamples; generating a channel code sequence; operating a second combinerfor combining the descrambled signal samples with the channel codesequence thereby generating despread signal samples; and accumulatingthe despread signal samples over a spreading interval corresponding tothe signal samples thereby generating channel symbols.
 16. The method ofclaim 15, further comprising: generating the scrambling code sequencebased on first input received from a state controller; and generatingthe channel code sequence based on second input received from the statecontroller.
 17. The method of claim 15, further comprising: operating aradio frequency (RF) front end for receiving a signal from acommunication channel and generating baseband signal there from; andoperating an RF interface, communicatively coupled to the RF front end,for processing the baseband signal thereby generating the signalsamples.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein: the signal received fromthe communication channel is a wideband code division multiple access(WCDAM) signal; and the signal samples include chips in the spreadinginterval.
 19. The method of claim 15, wherein: the method is performedwithin a wireless terminal or a base station operative within a cellularwireless communication system.
 20. The method of claim 15, wherein: themethod is performed within a cellular telephone, a computer, a laptopcomputer, a desktop computer, or a data terminal.